Nearly two-thirds of older adults with mild gallstone pancreatitis undergo interval rather than index cholecystectomy despite recommendations in international guidelines, NSW doctors say.

This high rate of delayed procedures in the state is associated with more frequent emergency gallstone-related disease readmissions as well as laparoscopic conversions to open cholecystectomy, new data show.

Results from the first population-based, retrospective cohort study of its kind show that although the proportion of index cholecystectomies increased from 31% in 2008-09 to 40% in 2017-18, there remained significant room for improvement.

“Hospitals should be supported so that index cholecystectomy can be routinely provided to people over 50 with mild gallstone pancreatitis unless clinically contraindicated,” said Dr Jian Blundell, from Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital, and colleagues.